All else being equal, it seems an A would rather cooperate with a B than another A, because the cost to predict defection is lower.
The cost to predict consciously intended defection is lower.
I can and have produced numerous examples of Bs unintentionally defecting in our society, but for a less controversial example, let us take a society now deemed horrid. Let us consider the fake Nazi Dr. Wernher von Braun. Dr. Wernher von Braun was an example of A. His associates were examples of Bs. He proceeded to save their lives by lying to them and others, causing them to be captured by the Americans rather than the Russians. The B's around him were busy trying to get him killed, and themselves killed.
The cost to predict consciously intended defection is lower.
I generally find it it easier to predict behaviour when people pursue their interests than when they pursue their ideals. If their behaviour matches their interests rather than a set of ideals that they hide, isn't it easier to predict their behaviour?
This is thread where I'm trying to figure out a few things about signalling on LessWrong and need some information, so please immediately after reading about the two individuals please answer the poll. The two individuals:
A. Sees that an interpretation of reality shared by others is not correct, but tries to pretend otherwise for personal gain and/or safety.
B. Fails to see that an interpretation of reality is shared by others is flawed. He is therefore perfectly honest in sharing the interpretation of reality with others. The reward regime for outward behaviour is the same as with A.
To add a trivial inconvenience that matches the inconvenience of answering the poll before reading on, comments on what I think the two individuals signal,what the trade off is and what I speculate the results might be here versus the general population, is behind this link.